Preface to the Book Series

Abstract

An integrated view of Physics of Lakes requires expert knowledge in different specialities which are hardly found in single scientists. Even in a team the overall subject must be restricted; this has also been done here, as we only treat in this book series the geophysical aspects of fluid dynamics. Being applied to very complicated natural objects and phenomena, this science traditionally uses three main complementary approaches: theoretical description, field observation and (numerical, laboratory and other kinds of) modelling. The present work extensively uses all three approaches, this way providing to the reader an opportunity to build a coherent view of the entire subject at once—from the introduction of governing equations to various field phenomena, observed in real lakes. Several features, we believe, will make the series of especial interest for a wide range of students and scientists of geophysical interest as well as specialists in physical limnology. Before plunging into the main focus of lake physics we start with a detailed introduction of the main mathematical rules and the basic laws of classical physics; this makes further work with equations and their solutions much easier for readers without solid knowledge in the common trade of the background of mathematics and physics of continuous systems—biologists, chemists, ecologists. These sciences are today the most active branches in limnology and are utterly needed for the development of modern society; thus, an easily available physical background for them cannot be overestimated. A feature of this treatise is a consolidated view expressed in its three books of a wide panoramic overlook of various lake phenomena, inherent in physical oceanography and a fairly thorough theoretical treatment of fluid mechanics. This way, the reader will find here both the mathematical background and general physical laws and considerations of natural phenomena with their driving mechanisms (waves, turbulence, wind action, convection, etc.), and also a zoo of field examples from many lakes on our Globe. Special attention is devoted to the dynamic response of lakes on their free surface and in their interior, perhaps best coined as the climatology in response to external driving mechanisms—wind action and seasonal input of solar energy. These subjects reflect the many years of professional interests of the authors.